Eric Urbani

9.2

Persian Grapes! First time in 50 years: had to be made into wine in Armenia of course. Documentary tells the whole story - Somm: Cup of Salvation. — 10 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday.

Reddish in color with medium plus intensity and a wide reddish rim.

Strong nose of red fruits with light cedar, earth, tobacco leaf, black pepper, herbs and black tea.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.

Dry on the palate with cherries, plums, light oak, spices, chocolates, licorice, tobacco leaf, herbs and peppercorn.

Tangy finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a delicious Merlot from Napa Valley. Fruity and rich. Complex and entertaining.

Good right out of the bottle, and better after 90 minutes of airtime.

This Single Vineyard Merlot is elegant and nicely balanced. Will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

I had different vintages of this wine and it is very consistent.

Easy drinking and good by itself as a sipping wine.

100% Merlot grapes were aged in French oak barrels. A tiny production of only 300 bottles.

14.5% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$100. — 6 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Blend of equal amounts of local red grapes; Caino, Espadeiro and Loueiro, Ruby red color with aromas of red fruits, herb, floral and cigar box notes. On the palate flavors of cherry and raspberry with tobacco, oak and garden herbs. Medium+ finish, chalky tannins, savory, ending with herbs, spice, cedar and slight fruit, savory. Nice, will continue to age. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

From the Piedmont region, Barbaresco sub-region, 100% Nebbiolo grapes grown in the hills above above Barbaresco. Ruby with aromas of sweet dark berry fruit with herb notes. Aged for 2 years on oak showing flavors of black cherry and strawberry with hints of black pepper and tobacco, nice balance and structure. Fine soft tannins on long finish ending with earthy tones. Will age well. Pair with a veal piccata and roasted vegetables. — 3 years ago

"Odedi"

8.9

Kukeri Wines Rosé Nouveau 2021, Sonoma Coast, California

Deep salmon in color with an orange hue.

On the nose raspberries, strawberries, limes, earth, bitter herbs and green apples.

Medium bodied with medium plus acidity. Crisp and refreshing.

Dry on the palate with limes, cranberries, sour cherries, earth, bitter vegetables, green apples, black pepper and spices.

Tangy finish with bitter herbs.

This is a nice Rosé from Sonoma Coast in California. A good quality wine, earthy and good with food.

Showing nice complexity with a soft mouthfeel.

Feels like a Rosé from Southern France.

100% Pinot Noir grapes from a Single Vineyard were aged in French oak barrels for 2 months. A tiny production of only 3 barrels.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

89 points.

$28. — 4 years ago

Clay Bullwinkel

9.3

Very good as always. I Vigneri’s Vinupetra by local wine guru Salvo Foti. Nerello Mascalese grapes crafted into Etna Rossi wine. Volcanic minerals, crisp mix of dark berry flavors,, Mediterranean herbs. Makes one want to climb the mountain. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

All of the grapes from the vineyards owned by the Latour family are vinified and aged in the cuverie of Château Corton Grancey in Aloxe-Corton. The winery was the first purpose-built cuverie in France and remains the oldest still-functioning. Medium pale lemon color with aromas of stone fruits with a slight nutty floral character. On the palate flavors of peach and melon with lemon citrus and savory notes. Medium+ finish, lively acidity, ending with fruit, toasty oak and minerality. Nice! — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

After pressing dried grapes from making Amarone, Valpolicella wine is passed over the still warm skins of Amarone for 2nd alcoholic fermentation, increasing the alcoholic content, aromas and color. Blend of 85% Corvina, 10% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta. Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet dried berry fruits and pepper spice. On the palate ripe blackberry, currants and sweet cherry with complex spice. Well balanced with acidity and alcohol, full-body with soft tannins on long finish. Nice value. — 7 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.4

Elegant Ruby red color with red fruit aromas and gentle floral spice, aged for about 12 months in French oak, signature blend of grapes from Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, and Yamhill-Carlton AVA's. On the palate flavors of cherry and black raspberry with notes of herb, licorice and wet stone notes. Soft dusty tannins on a long finish ending with fruit, spice and earthy notes. Very Nice! Drinking well now! — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Grapes from small Paso Robles AVAs blocks, aged in 75% new oak for 18 mos. Dark Ruby, aromas of sweet ripe black fruits, smoky tobacco and pepper spices. On the palate flavors of black cherry and blackberry with herb, cacao, espresso and vanilla oak, after it opened up. Fine tannins, long finish ending with fruit, cacao, vanilla and earthy herbs. Good but let this age for a couple of years. — 3 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Primarily Grenache (79%) with small amounts of Six other grapes. Aromas and flavors of strawberry, peach, melon, tropical fruits and dusty earth. There is also a hint of brioche and a very creamy texture (lees contact?). Touch of pepper spice on the finish. Bright acidity. Refreshing. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Querciabella, in Italian, means “beautiful oak” and surrounds their vineyards. Founded in 1974 by Giuseppe Castiglioni, now managed and owned by Sebastiano Cossia Castiglionii. Sangiovese from biodynamically grown grapes, Ruby, lovely nose of fruit, floral and spice. On the palate cherry and blackberry flavors with earthy herb notes and spicy cacao. Fine tannins, good balance, medium+ finish ending with earthy character. Nice value, consistent. — 5 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Est., in the early 1950s, producing and selling only grapes and just a few years ago Giampaolo Pira began aging and bottling its own wines. Ruby with aromas of dark berry fruit and earthy spices, 100% Nebbiolo. On the palate flavors of ripe cherry and plum with earthy pepper spice, well balanced. Fine tannins, vivid acidity, long finish ending with earthy mineral notes, drink now. — 5 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

From the stable of the famous Alvaro Palacios. Black cherry, raspberry, thyme and gravel - many nuances. Barb thought a raisiny note. On the medium bodied palate, very savoury. One of my favourite grapes (Mencia) and terroirs (Bierzo), and has been every time I taste it. Very fine tannins - almost silky. A stunning, flamboyant Spanish Label. Amazing value at only $46AUD which I paid in 2020. — 5 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

A Blend of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, a portion aged in new French oak. Grapes sourced from several vineyards. Deep Ruby, black fruit aromas with cedar and earthy herb notes. On the palate flavors of black plum and blackberry with cacao, vanilla and cedar on fine tannins. Medium+ finish ending with tobacco and smoky spice notes. — a year ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.0

Made with Chardonnay and Chardonnay Muscaté grapes. Medium lemon color with aromas of stone fruits, citrus, honey and floral scents. On the palate flavors of peach, pear and lemon, well balanced, crisp, lively acidity, medium length ending with chalky mineral character. Very nice! Good value! — 3 years ago

Stuart Peisner

9.0

This is one of those wines your gonna love it or not. Great fruit in middle and finish. This blend has a lot of different grapes. I think it’s a very good wine. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

About 95% of grapes sourced from Carneros, aged about 8 months on 1/3 new oak with 20% of wine going through malolactic fermentation. Aromas of ripe stone fruits with slight honey oak scents. On palate complex flavors of ripe apple, peach & lemon zest, balanced with good acidity & great mouthfeel. Long finish ending with fruit, wet stone and toasty character. Very nice, will age well. — 4 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.3

A blend of 40% Corvinone, 30% Corvina, 15% Rondinella, remained indigenous grapes derived from 18-acre vineyard. Ruby with with aromas of dried fruits with floral and smoky spice notes. On the palate plum and sweet cherry flavors, savory, with citrus, tobacco & cacao. Soft tannins, chewy on long finish ending with a juicy fruit and oak character. — 5 years ago

Severn G

9.2

Nose has ripe yellow apple, creamy oak goodness, pineapple core and browned butter.

Palate has ripe pineapple, under-ripe pineapple, ripe yellow apple, light oak notes with notable acidity still and medium finish. Still many, many years to go on this wine, drink 2025-2030+ from proper storage. Decanted 8H.

I'll reiterate prior comments, this is a unique wine...Winery notes:
"80% of the grapes were immediately whole cluster pressed. The Chardonnay was fermented in French oak with about 16% new oak. The remaining 20% of the grapes were placed, single layer, in shallow trays for six weeks following the traditional Passito method. After natural dehydration, the grapes were gently pressed and fermented in barrels. The two fractions were blended prior to bottling. A full malolactic fermentation lowered the acidity and improved the texture of the wine. The wine was gently filtered prior to bottling." — 5 years ago